The Humanist Hour #200: Women in Secularism & Secular Woman

In spring of 2012, the secular movement was a different place for women. We were grossly underrepresented on stage, in print, and in the membership of our organizations. In a movement that prides itself on asking questions, the people asking why this underrepresentation was happening were being shouted down. The Center for Inquiry’s (CFI) Women in Secularism conference in Washington, D.C. was created to address these problems. The brain child of Melody Hensley, the conference featured a weekend of only women speakers, and it changed the movement.

This week, Stephanie Zvan talks to Debbie Goddard, Director of Outreach at CFI and Director of African Americans for Humanism, about the history of the conference and what people can look forward to this year. Debbie is organizing the fourth Women in Secularism conference, taking place September 23–25, 2016.

Stephanie also talks with Monette Richards, president of CFI Northeast Ohio and co-president of Secular Woman, an organization that was born at the first Women in Secularism conference. We’ll catch up on what it’s been up to, as well as its hopes and plans for the future.

The Humanist Hour is a monthly one-hour talk show produced by the American Humanist Association. Co-hosted by Peggy Knudtson and Jenn Wilson, every episode explores a different area of humanist thought, from politics to pop culture. Learn more about The Humanist Hour here.